3.27.2005

the truth of S/M

Michel Foucault 在1970年才創出"The History of Sexuality"這本書，主要論述社會的控制力如可由「社會」這機構轉移到「個人」身上，透過控制「個人」的身體，性別等來作全面的控制和統一化。簡單的例子：家庭是由一男一女組成，同性就被邈視或'demonize.'

試想Sade當年寫"The 120 Days of Sodom"及其他作品，怎會不被當作瘋子及性變態？（120 Days 是描寫４位有錢有勢力的成年人，各捉了一班年輕男女作30天的性虐待。）當然，虐待的描寫十分重，那正是用來反映社會／"神"對人的虐待： "Everything has to be wicked, barbarous, inhuman - as your God is - and these are the vices which must be adopted if one wishes to plaese him; not that there is much hope of succeeding, since that evil which always does harm, the evil which is God's essence, could not possibly be susceptible either to love or gratitude. If this God who is the center of evil and ferocity torments man, and his Nature and other men torment him throughout his existence, what reason is there to doubt that he accts in the same way, and perhaps even involuntarily, on this wisp which survives after man and which ... is nothing other than evil?....once I become aware of this, evil becomes good for me as it is for the being who has created me in his dealings with me, and I am pleased by the evil I do others as God is pleased by the evil he has done to me. ... pleasure through comparison, a pleasure which can only be born from the sight of the unhappy, .. wherever men are equal and where differences do not exist, happiness will never exist; it's quite like the situation of the man who doesn't appreciate the price of good health until he has been ill." (Sade quoted in Klossowski) - 簡短來說，神創造要經過生老病死的人，那麼神不是最可惡(Sadist)的嗎？Sade的邏輯其實很簡單。

3.26.2005

TW and PRC Controversy :: 台獨爭論

- extracted from Swiss info (3/27/2005)"I am here to protest against a barbaric China which looks down upon the Taiwanese people," said 70-year-old businessman Fan Wen-yi, adding he was not affiliated to any political party and had never participated in a protest before. "The anti-secession law, simply put, is a law that authorises war."

=== COMMENTS === Out of the many English newspaper I have read on this topic, only ONE press has picked up or bothered to quote what Wen Jiabao said in the press interview on 3/14 regarding the secession law. The bias of coverage since 3/14 stirred international conflicts, and further escalated negative presumptions of "THE communist PRC" amongst individuals. Use of words in titles ("Back China"), quotes from protesters ("barbaric China"), reveal the power of media that proliferates biased connotations of the Law among general public.

For those who care about the this matter, here is a site that has a vast pool of English coverage. Knowledge and 'independent thinking' is the key to freedom of the mind and sight.

Brief history of Coffee in Japan

1609 - Coffee was brought into Japan by the Dutch when a trade company was established1804 - the first written account of a Japanese drinking coffee1826 - popular myth that coffee is a medicine for longevity1858 - free trade began, official import of coffee began1869 - first printed advertisement of coffee in Yokohama1878 - first attempt to cultivate plants that yield coffee beans1888 - first class European cafe "可否茶館 (Kahi Chakan)" opened in Tokyo (closed in 4 years)1910 - first "不二家洋菓子店 (Fujiya Western Sweets Shop)" opened in Yokohama1930 - 7000 cafes in Tokyo; 17,000 waitresses hired1934 - import of Columbia coffee beans; operating cafes across the nation were close to 30,000 stores1936 - first import of Blue Mountain coffee beans via import route from London, UK1938 - import of all goods became restricted due to WWII, coffee import halved1942 - coffee import zeroed1945 - coffee became a luxurious consumer product due to low availability within Japan1950 - coffee import resumed after 8 years of interruption; import were heavily taxed1953 - first import of Blue Mountain coffee in post-war Japan; cost was very high due to unusual climate in Brazil1956 - first import of instant coffee; first Japan-made espresso machine1960 - free trade of coffee beans; first production of instant coffee in Japan1961 - free trade of instant coffee1963 - establishment of a coffee association in Japan1967 - first instant coffee produced by the freeze dry method1971 - consumption of instant coffee reached 12,000 tons in Japan1974 - distinction between coffee produced in Japan and those of export1980 - the coffee association became a corporation1983 - October 1 is established as the nation's "Coffee Day"

3.25.2005

History of Japanese Curry

1869 - Curry arrived in Japan with the British through the port of Yokohama1872 - Buddhism has banned and denounced eating meat, especially beef until this year. In 1872, eating beef was considered a sign of 'modernity' and curry became the popular way to eat meat. Other than using beef in curry, chicken, shrimp, clam, cod fish were popular ingredients.1877 - 凮月堂(Fuugetsudou) started the chain of 'high end Western cuisine,' including curry rice. These dishes were sold at 8cents per serving; compared to soba which costs 1cent)1887 - there are doubts that Curry were cooked at home up to this year.1903 - Sino War period - canned curry beef and pork were part of soldier's meals.1898 - price of curry meal dropped to 5-7cents per dish1906 - curry pastes became available on retail market1932 - curry became one of the set menus in common cafeterias; coffee is also readily available and a set meal of curry and coffee together costs 20cents.1940 - inflation - curry costs 20-30cents1941 - during WWII - curry production stopped for the retail market but was available to the soldiers1946 - production of curry resumed; because of shortage of supply, curry only comes in powder form1950 - curry became a popular instant food1960s - curry became 'domesticated' - sweet curry became available1969 - instant food culture became the trend in Japan1970s - curry consumption grew rapidly

=== Domestication Process ===1870s - flour was used in curry paste1880s - flour was removed from curry paste; onions were replaced by Japanese long green onion.1890s - onions were back as one of the popular ingredients, including other western ingredients such as milk1960s - curry is domesticated as "Japanese" - popularisation of 'sweet curry' which used to be only for young childern

t i m e - is just another creation

About Me

A mandarin fell in love with a courtesan. “I shall be yours,” she told him, “when you have spent a hundred nights waiting for me, sitting on a stool, in my garden beneath my window.” But on the ninety-ninth night, the mandarin stood up, put his stool under his arm, and went away.